U.S. patent number 10,648,725 [Application Number 16/154,963] was granted by the patent office on 2020-05-12 for refrigerator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jaeyoul Lee, Seungho Lee, Jisu Park.
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United States Patent |
10,648,725 |
Park , et al. |
May 12, 2020 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage chamber, a
main door pivotably mounted to the cabinet while including an
opening provided at an inside of the main door, and a stepped
portion provided around the opening, a sub-storage chamber mounted
at the inside of the main door, a sub-door mounted to the main
door, to allow a user to have access to the sub-storage chamber,
the sub-door having opposite side surfaces with front portions
protruding forwards of a front surface of the main door while
having a greater width than the opening and stepped portion between
the front portions of the side surfaces, to cover the stepped
portion by the side surfaces, and a hinge pivotably mounted to the
main door and coupled to the sub-door while being bent at an
intermediate portion thereof, to pivotably support the sub-door
with respect to the main door.
Inventors: |
Park; Jisu (Seoul,
KR), Lee; Seungho (Seoul, KR), Lee;
Jaeyoul (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
53719713 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/154,963 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20190041120 A1 |
Feb 7, 2019 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15237703 |
Aug 16, 2016 |
10126041 |
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14808319 |
Sep 13, 2016 |
9441872 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 27, 2014 [KR] |
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10-2014-0112184 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D
11/02 (20130101); E05C 3/30 (20130101); F25D
23/02 (20130101); E05D 7/00 (20130101); E05B
65/0042 (20130101); F25D 23/028 (20130101); F25D
23/04 (20130101); F25D 23/025 (20130101); E05C
7/02 (20130101); E05C 19/00 (20130101); F25D
2323/023 (20130101); F25D 2201/00 (20130101); E05Y
2900/31 (20130101); F25D 2323/024 (20130101); F25D
2201/126 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25D
23/02 (20060101); E05C 7/02 (20060101); F25D
11/02 (20060101); E05C 19/00 (20060101); E05D
7/00 (20060101); F25D 23/04 (20060101); E05B
65/00 (20060101); E05C 3/30 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2 409 236 |
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Jun 2005 |
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GB |
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S55-8826 |
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Jun 1978 |
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JP |
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S57-085184 |
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May 1982 |
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JP |
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2003-021452 |
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Jan 2003 |
|
JP |
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2003-065659 |
|
Mar 2003 |
|
JP |
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2003-262454 |
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Sep 2003 |
|
JP |
|
1999-0031602 |
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Jul 1999 |
|
KR |
|
10-2004-0021442 |
|
Mar 2004 |
|
KR |
|
10-2011-0138772 |
|
Dec 2011 |
|
KR |
|
10-2012-0140392 |
|
Dec 2012 |
|
KR |
|
WO 2004/033974 |
|
Apr 2004 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2005/038181 |
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Apr 2005 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2007/031469 |
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Mar 2007 |
|
WO |
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WO 2014/038190 |
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Mar 2014 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
European Search Report dated Dec. 23, 2015 issued in Application
No. 15178047.5. cited by applicant .
U.S. Notice of Allowance dated May 25, 2016 issued in U.S. Appl.
No. 14/808,319. cited by applicant .
U.S. Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 14/808,319 dated Mar.
15, 2016. cited by applicant .
European Office Action dated Jun. 20, 2017 issued in Application
No. 15178047.5. cited by applicant .
U.S. Office Action dated Jul. 5, 2017 issued in U.S. Appl. No.
15/237,703. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Roersma; Andrew M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: KED & Associates, LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is a Continuation Application of prior U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/237,703 filed Aug. 16, 2016, which is a
Continuation Application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/808,319 filed Jul. 24, 2015, which claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Korean Application No. 10-2014-0112184 filed
on Aug. 27, 2014, whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporated
by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having a storage chamber
having an opening; a main door coupled to the cabinet via a first
upper hinge and a first lower hinge, having a front surface, a rear
surface, edge surfaces, and a front opening, and configured to open
or close the opening of the storage chamber; a first gasket mounted
along a peripheral area of the rear surface of the main door; a
metal member mounted on the front surface of the main door; a
sub-door coupled to the main door via a second upper hinge and a
second lower hinge, having a front surface, a rear surface, and
edge surfaces, and configured to rotate in a direction identical to
the main door and open or close the front opening of the main door;
a second gasket mounted along a peripheral area of the rear surface
of the sub-door, having a magnetic member, and configured to stick
to the front surface of the main door due to attraction force with
the metal member when the sub-door closes; a hook member having a
first extension portion, and a hook bent from the first extension
portion and protruding rearwards from the rear surface of the
sub-door, the hook member configured to rotate vertically about an
axial protrusion; and an engagement groove provided on a front
surface of the main door and configured to accept the hook, a
handle groove configured to allow a user to pull the sub-door, the
handle groove recessed inward from one of the edge surfaces of the
sub-door; a groove portion provided beside the handle groove and in
communication with the handle groove; an axial groove formed within
the handle groove; a lever member configured to rotate within the
handle groove and having a pivot axial protrusion which pivots in
the axial groove; and an elastic member provided within the groove
portion and configured to provide an elastic force to the hook
member to engage with the engagement groove; and a bracket having a
groove coupled to the axial protrusion of the hook member and
mounted on die groove portion, wherein the hook is accepted into
the engagement groove when the sub-door closes, wherein the main
door is bigger than the sub-door, wherein an area where the first
gasket is arranged along the main door is larger than an area where
the second gasket is arranged along the sub-door, and wherein the
front opening is smaller than the opening of the storage
chamber.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a lever
projecting from the lever member is arranged within the groove
portion.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the lever is
formed on a surface of the lever member, and wherein the lever
contacts the first extension portion.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first
extension portion transfers force from the lever member.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the hook member
is provided within the groove portion.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the main door has
a frame cover defining the front surface, and wherein the metal
member is installed in the frame cover.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is
fastened within the handle groove by a screw.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the handle groove
has a rectangular shape.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the lever member
forms a rectangular shape.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sub-door has
a cap decoration defining the sub door, and wherein the handle
groove is formed on the cap decoration.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a
plurality of racks mounted on the main door.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sub-door has
a cap decoration defining one of the edge surfaces.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the handle
groove is opened on the rear surface of the sub-door.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the groove
portion is deeper than a bottom of the handle groove.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the lever member
has a thickness of less than half of the handle groove.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the lever member
includes a rib provided on a rear surface of the lever member.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a recess is
provided on a side of the sub-door and a lever member is provided
along the recess, and the hook is released by pulling the lever in
a direction away from the main door.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
2. Background
Generally, a refrigerator is an appliance for storing food within a
storage chamber in a frozen or refrigerated state by discharging
into the storage chamber, cold air generated through a
refrigeration cycle constituted by a compressor, a condenser, an
expansion valve, an evaporator, etc. Such a refrigerator includes,
as storage compartments, a freezing compartment for storing food or
beverages in a frozen state, and a refrigerating compartment for
storing food or beverages at low temperature.
Refrigerators may be classified into a top mounting type
refrigerator in which a freezing compartment is arranged over a
refrigerating compartment, a bottom freezer type refrigerator in
which a refrigerating compartment is arranged over a freezing
compartment, and a side-by-side type refrigerator in which a
freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment are laterally
arranged.
Recently developed refrigerators have various functions in addition
to original functions to store food in a refrigerated or frozen
state. For example, a dispenser is installed at the door of a
refrigerator to supply purified water or ice. In addition, a
display is installed at a front surface of the door to display
states of the refrigerator so as to allow the user to manage the
refrigerator.
Recently developed refrigerators have a tendency toward an
enlargement in capacity. For efficient utility of storage spaces, a
door rack or a storage case is additionally provided at the inside
of a refrigerator door, e.g., a refrigerating compartment door, in
order to provide a space for storing food articles. The storage
case, which is provided as a space separate from a storage chamber
in a refrigerator, is referred to as a "home bar" or an "auxiliary
storage compartment".
In order to allow the user to have access to the auxiliary storage
compartment without opening the refrigerating door to open the
entirety of the refrigerating compartment, an opening may be formed
at the refrigerating door, and a sub-door may be mounted to the
opening in order to open or close the opening. The sub-door may
have a size equal to or smaller than the main door. The sub-door
may be mounted to be vertically pivotable with respect to a
horizontal axis or to be laterally pivotable with respect to a
vertical axis.
However, there are problems. For example, when the sub-door is
smaller than the main door, a gap is formed between the edge of the
opening and the edge of the sub-door in a state in which the
opening of the main door is closed by the sub-door. The gap is
viewed at front side and, as such, appearance beauty may be
degraded. Furthermore, cold air may leak through the gap.
In addition, the sub-door is mounted in such a manner that the
sub-door is embedded in the opening and as such, there is a problem
in that the pivot angle of the sub-door is insufficient. The
structure of a latch device to selectively couple the sub-door to
the main door is also complex. Since the latch device is mounted
after passing through the sub-door, there is also a problem in that
cold air may leak through a mounting portion of the latch
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the
following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like
elements wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according
to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an opened state of a
sub-door in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view taken when a main door is
viewed at front side;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view taken when the sub-door is
viewed at back side;
FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the main door
and sub-door;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating upper hinge
areas of the main door and sub-door;
FIG. 7 is a partially-broken enlarged perspective view illustrating
a lower hinge area of the sub-door;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a latch device;
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating mounting of the latch device to a
mounting groove of the sub-door;
FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view illustrating operation of the
latch device; and
FIGS. 11A and 11B are plan views illustrating opened and closed
states of the sub-door with respect to the main door.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the
present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Although the illustrated refrigerator is a
top mounting type refrigerator, the present disclosure may also be
applied to refrigerators of other types.
The configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1
and 2. A freezing compartment 30 (FIG. 6) is arranged at a top side
of a cabinet 10, and a refrigerating compartment is arranged at a
bottom side of the cabinet 10. A freezing compartment door 20 to
open or close the freezing compartment may be pivotably mounted to
the cabinet 10 by a hinge 22 provided at a right side of the top of
the cabinet 10.
A handle 24 may be provided at a left side of a front surface of
the freezing compartment door 20. The handle 24 is mounted to
protrude forwards. The handle 24 may take the form of a groove
formed at a side surface or bottom surface of the freezing
compartment door 20 without protruding from the front surface of
the freezing compartment door 20.
A refrigerating compartment door to open or close the refrigerating
compartment may be pivotably mounted to the cabinet 10 by a hinge
provided at a right side of the bottom of the cabinet 10. In the
illustrated embodiment, the refrigerating compartment door includes
a main door pivotably mounted to a right side of the cabinet 10,
and a sub-door 200 having a smaller size than the main door 100
while being mounted to be pivotable with respect to the main door
100. A handle 120 to open or close the main door 100 may be
provided at a left side surface of the main door 100 while taking
the form of a groove.
An opening 170 is formed through the main door 100 at the inside of
the main door 100. A sub-storage compartment 50 is provided at a
backside of the main door 100, as a storage space separate from the
refrigerating compartment. The sub-storage compartment 50 is
disposed forwards of the refrigerating compartment when the main
door 100 is closed. The sub-storage compartment 50 may take the
form of a case so as to be partitioned from the refrigerating
compartment. Although the sub-storage compartment 50 has a smaller
width and a smaller vertical size than the refrigerating
compartment, a plurality of racks may be mounted in the sub-storage
compartment 50 so as to achieve efficient use of the storage space
in the sub-storage compartment 50.
The sub-door 200 may have a smaller size than the main door 100
and, as such, allows the user to have access to the sub-storage
compartment 50 mounted at the inside of the main door 100 when the
sub-door 200 is opened. A handle groove 234 may be provided at a
left side of a top surface of the sub-door 200 so as to allow the
user to pull the sub-door 200 while grasping the handle groove 234
upon opening only the sub-door 200.
A latch device 240 is mounted in the handle groove 234. The latch
device 240 includes a hook member 247 (FIG. 8) to be engaged in an
engagement groove 132 provided at an upper portion of the front
surface of the main door 100. In detail, the engagement groove 132,
which engages with the hook member 247, is provided at one side of
a front upper surface in a stepped structure of the main door 100
to define the opening 170. The engagement groove 132 of the latch
device 240 will be described later in detail.
A groove 26, which has a slightly greater width than the opening
170, may be provided at a lower end portion of the front surface of
the freezing compartment door 20. The groove 26 allows the user to
easily find the handle groove 234 and to easily insert the fingers
into the handle groove 234. If there is no groove 26, it may be
difficult to easily find the handle groove 234 and to insert the
fingers into the handle groove 234 because the spacing between the
bottom surface of the freezing compartment door 20 and the
refrigerating door or sub-door 200.
Hereinafter, an assembly structure of the main door 100 will be
described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. An outer door to
define the front surface and opposite side surfaces of the main
door 110 and a door liner 160 to define a back surface of the main
door 110 are coupled. In FIG. 3, the outer door is designated by
reference numeral "110" designating the main door.
The outer door 110 takes a U shape when viewed at top side. An
opening 112 is centrally formed at an upper portion of the outer
door 110. The opening 112 is upwardly opened. A hole may be formed
at an upper portion of a left side surface of the outer door 110
and, as such, the handle 120, which has a concave groove shape, may
be mounted to the hole.
An opening 162 corresponding to the opening 112 of the outer door
110 is also formed at an upper portion of the door liner 160. The
opening 162 has a structure surrounded by an edge of the door liner
160. A pair of door dikes 166 may be provided at opposite sides of
a back surface of the door liner 160 in an integrated manner. Each
door dike 166 protrudes rearwards while being vertically elongate.
Although not shown, a gasket of the main door 100 is formed along
an edge of the back surface of the door liner 160. The gasket may
be mounted in grooves provided outside the door dikes 166.
A frame cover 130 and a magnetic gasket 140 are mounted between the
outer door 110 and the door liner 160. The frame cover 130 is
mounted at the inside of the opening 112 of the outer door 110. The
opening 170 is formed at the inside of the frame cover 130 in a
stepped manner.
The front surface portion of the frame cover 130 surrounding the
opening 170 is disposed rearwards of the front surface of the outer
door 110, and the lateral ends and lower end of the front surface
portion of the frame cover 130 are connected to the front surface
of the outer door 110. Accordingly, the front surface portion of
the frame cover 130 may be referred to as a "stepped portion
172".
The stepped portion 172 may be formed with the opening 170 at the
inside thereof, and may include an opened upper surface, and side
surfaces and a lower surface, which extend forwards from the
lateral ends and lower ends of the stepped portion 172,
respectively. The opposite lateral edges and lower edge of the
frame cover 130 are formed to have a stepped structure, the upper
edge of the frame cover 130 has a flat plate structure, and these
edges are connected to have an integrated structure.
The engagement groove 132, in which the hook member 247 of the
latch device 240 is engagable, is provided at a left upper side of
the front surface of the stepped portion 172 in the frame cover
130. Although the engagement groove 132 may simply take the form of
a through hole, a separate member formed with the engagement groove
132 may be coupled to a groove formed at a left side of the upper
edge of the frame cover 130.
The magnetic gasket 140 is mounted to the back surface of the frame
cover 130. The magnetic gasket 140 is not adapted to contact the
front surface of the cabinet 10, but is adapted to interact with a
gasket 224 of the sub-door 200. A groove (not shown) may be formed
at the back surface of the frame cover 130 along the edge of the
frame cover 130, to receive the magnetic gasket 140.
In addition, a coupling member 150 may be provided to fix the
magnetic gasket 140 to the frame cover 130. The coupling member 150
is coupled to the frame cover 130 so as to cause the magnetic
gasket 140 to be fixed in a fitted manner in the groove provided at
the back surface of the frame cover 130. For coupling of the
coupling member 150 to the frame cover 130, a plurality of
engagement grooves may be provided around the back surface groove
of the frame cover 130, and a plurality of engagement protrusions
corresponding to the engagement grooves may be provided at the
coupling member 150.
Cap decorations 180 and 190 are coupled to top and bottom surfaces
formed in accordance with coupling of the outer door 110 and door
liner 160, respectively. A pivot groove 182 is provided at a right
side of an upper surface of the upper cap decoration 180 so as to
mount a pivot shaft of an upper hinge of the sub-door 200. The
pivot groove 182 has a shape capable of not only mounting the pivot
shaft of the upper hinge thereto, but also receiving a front half
portion of the pivot shaft when the upper hinge pivots.
A pin hole 184 is provided at a right end of the upper cap
decoration 180, to mount a pivot shaft 185 of an upper hinge of the
main door 100. A pin hole 194 is provided at the right end of the
lower cap decoration 190, to mount a pivot shaft 195 of a lower
hinge of the main door 100.
A procedure of assembling the main door 100 will be described
hereinafter. First, the magnetic gasket 140 is fitted in the frame
cover 130, and the coupling member 150 is then coupled to the frame
cover 130. After coupling the frame cover 130 to the inside of the
opening 112 of the outer door 110, the door liner 160 is coupled to
the outer door 110.
Thereafter, the upper cap decoration 180 and lower cap decoration
190 are coupled to the top and bottom surfaces formed in according
with coupling of the outer door 110 and door liner 160. A foaming
material is injected into an inner space of the main door 100
assembled as described above.
Hereinafter, an assembled structure of the sub-door 200 will be
described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. An outer door 210 to
define the front surface and opposite side surfaces of the sub-door
200 and a door liner 220 is coupled to the sub-door 200 to define
the rear surface of the sub-door 200. The outer door 210 may
include a front surface portion 211 forming the front surface of
the outer door 210, and side surface portions 212 bent rearwards
from opposite lateral ends of the front surface portion 211. The
front surface portion 211 may have a flat surface. Alternatively,
the front surface portion 211 may have a slightly convex
surface.
In a state in which the sub-door 200 is closed, the rear sides of
the side surface portions 212 are positioned at the opening 170 of
the main door 100 inside the stepped portion 172, and the front
sides of the side surface portions 212 are positioned forwards of
the front surface of the main door 100.
Front portions of opposite side surfaces of the sub-door 200 are
protruded forwards of the front surface of the main door 100. Since
the width between the front portions of opposite side surfaces of
the sub-door 200 is greater than the width of the opening 170 and
the width of the stepped portion 172, the stepped portion 172 is
covered by opposite ends of the sub-door 200.
Since opposite ends of the sub-door 200 covers the stepped portion
172, the gap between the outer side surface of the stepped portion
172 in the main door 100 and the rear side surface of the sub-door
200 is hidden at front side. Opposite rear edges of the sub-door
200 have a shape corresponding to those of the opening 170 and
stepped portion 172 of the main door 100.
A door dike 222 may be formed at the back surface of the door liner
220, to protrude along an edge of the back surface in an integrated
manner. The gasket 224, which has a rectangular shape, is mounted
at the outside of the door dike 222. When the sub-door 200 is
closed, the gasket 224 contacts the front surface of the stepped
portion 172 surrounding the opening of the main door 100.
A magnet 226 (FIG. 5) is received in the interior of the gasket
224, as will be described later. Accordingly, when the sub-door 200
is closed, sealing effects may be enhanced by virtue of interacting
attraction generated between the magnet 226 and the magnetic gasket
140 mounted at the inside of the stepped portion 172 of the main
door 100 and, as such, leakage of cold air may be prevented.
Cap decorations 230 and 250 are coupled to top and bottom surfaces
formed in accordance with coupling of the outer door 210 and door
liner 220, respectively. A coupling groove 232 is provided at one
side of an upper portion of the upper cap decoration 230 coupled to
the top surface. An upper hinge 260 is coupled to the coupling
groove 232. At the other side of the upper portion of the upper cap
decoration 230, the handle groove 234, to which the latch device
240 is coupled, is provided.
A plurality of holes is formed at the coupling groove 232, to
fasten a plurality of screws 267. A plurality of holes, through
which the screws 267 will pass, is also formed at one end of the
upper hinge 260. After coupling the upper hinge 260 to the coupling
groove 232, a cover 268 is mounted to the coupling groove 232. In
accordance with mounting of the cover 268, it may be possible to
prevent occurrence of a problem associated with safety such as
jamming of fingers without degrading appearance.
A coupling groove 252 (FIG. 7) is also provided at one side of a
lower portion of the lower cap decoration 250 coupled to the bottom
surface. A lower hinge 270 is coupled to the coupling groove 232,
and is fastened by a plurality of screws 277. Similarly to the
above-described case, a cover 278 is mounted to the coupling groove
252 after coupling the lower hinge 270 to the coupling groove
252.
A procedure of assembling the above-described sub-door 200 will be
described. Rear ends of the side surface portions 212 of the outer
door 210 and the door liner 220 are coupled. The latch device 240
is mounted in the handle groove 234 of the upper cap decoration
230. Thereafter, the upper cap decoration 230 and lower cap
decoration 250 are coupled to the top surface and bottom surface
formed in accordance with coupling of the outer door 210 and door
liner 220, respectively.
Similarly to the main door 100, a foaming material may be injected
into an inner space of the sub-door 200 assembled as described
above. Subsequently, the upper hinge 260 is coupled to the upper
cap decoration 230, and the lower hinge 270 is coupled to the lower
cap decoration 250. Then, it may be possible to mount the upper
hinge 260 and lower hinge 270 to the main door 110.
In FIG. 5, a horizontal sectional view is shown to illustrate a
closed state of the sub-door 200 with respect to the main door 100.
As described above, a pair of door dikes 166 is formed at the back
surface of the door liner 160 of the main door 100, and grooves are
formed outside the door dikes 166, to receive the gasket of the
main door 100. The outer door 210 of the sub-door 200 forms the
front and side surfaces of the sub-door 200, and is coupled to the
door liner 220 forming the back surface of the sub-door 200 at
opposite rear ends thereof.
The door dike 222 is formed at the door liner 220 in an integrated
manner and, as such, is positioned inside the opening 170 when the
sub-door 200 is closed. Mounting grooves 223 to mount the gasket
224 are provided at opposite ends of the door liner 220. Mounting
protrusions 225 to be fitted in the mounting grooves 223 are
provided at the gasket 224. The gasket 224 is made of rubber or a
flexible synthetic resin material. The gasket 224 may be provided
with the magnetic member 226 installed therein. A metal member or
magnetic member 146 may be provided at the interior of the stepped
portion 172 in the frame cover 130 of the main door 100.
The metal member or magnetic member 146 may form at least a portion
of the magnetic gasket 140. The gasket 224 may more effectively
prevent leakage of cold air because, when the sub-door 200 is
closed with respect to the main door 100, the magnetic member 226
contacts front surface of the stepped portion 172 by virtue of
attraction between the magnetic member 226 and the metal member or
magnetic member 146 and, as such, an increase in contact force is
generated.
Each side surface of the sub-door 200 may include a first surface
213 disposed inside the stepped portion 172 while extending
forwards from the back surface of the sub-door 200, a second
surface 214 extending inclinedly from the first surface 213
outwards and forwards of the stepped portion 172, and a third
surface 215 disposed outwards and forwards of the stepped portion
172 while extending forwards from a front end of the second
surface.
Each side surface of the sub-door 200 is formed by the outer door
210. All the first surface 213, second surface 214, and third
surface 215 may be formed integrally with the outer door 210 as a
part of the outer door 210. The first surface 213 is positioned
rearwards of the front surface of the main door 100 while being
arranged in front of the stepped portion 172 when the sub-door 200
is closed. In this state, the second surface 214, which is an
inclined surface, extends forwards of the front surface of the main
door 100 and, as such, is arranged to face an edge formed between
the side surface of the stepped portion 172 and the front surface
of the main door 100.
The third surface 215 occupies a large thickness part of the
portion of the sub-door 200 protruding forwards of the front
surface of the main door 100. The third surface 215 is formed not
only to provide a sufficient thickness of the sub-door 200 in order
to secure a sufficient thermal insulation performance of the
foaming material injected into the sub-door 200, but also to
provide a round side edge of the sub-door 200. The side surface of
the sub-door 200 forms an acute angle smaller than 90.degree. with
respect to the front surface by the inclined surface, namely, the
second surface 214.
In prior sub-door, the sub-door is completely inserted inside the
opening and stepped portion of the main door and, as such, side
surfaces of the sub-door form flat surfaces. In prior sub-door,
bent portions, which are bent inwards from rear ends of the side
surfaces, are provided and, as such, cap decorations are fitted
between the bent portions after widening the bent portions.
The cap decorations 230 and 250 are assembled, using a method of
widening opposite side surfaces of the outer door 210, and then
fitting the cap decorations 230 and 250 between the widened side
surfaces. In the case of the sub-door 200 according to the present
disclosure, the side surfaces of the outer door 210 should be
further widened upon coupling the cap decorations 230 and 250
because the second surface 214 is inclinedly formed at an
intermediate portion of each side surface of the outer door 210.
Nevertheless, coupling of the cap decorations 230 and 250 through
widening of the side surfaces 212 of the outer door 210 is possible
and, as such, the cap decorations 230 and 250 may be more firmly
coupled.
If the second surface 214 is vertically bent with respect to the
first surface 213, the angle of the entirety of the side surface
212 of the outer door 210 may be more acute. In accordance with the
present disclosure, however, the second surface 214 is gently
inclined and, as such, it may be possible to reduce the inclination
angle of the entirety of the side surface 212 and to allow
increased dimension tolerance of the side surface 212 upon
fabricating the outer door 210.
In addition, since the second surface 214 is inclined, the gap
between the front surface of the main door 100 and the second
surface 214 is hardly viewed. Furthermore, it is possible to more
effectively prevent leakage of cold air through the gap.
Mounting structures of the upper hinge and lower hinge in the
sub-door will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The
upper hinge 260 is pivotably mounted to the pivot groove 182 formed
at the upper cap decoration 180 forming the top surface of the main
door 100, using a pivot shaft provided at one end of the upper
hinge 260. The other end of the upper hinge 260 is mounted to the
coupling groove 232 of the upper cap decoration 230 forming the top
surface of the sub-door 200. The cover 268 is then coupled to the
coupling groove 232.
Since the upper hinge 260 is bent at the intermediate portion
thereof, the upper hinge 260 may be opened through an increased
angle without interfering with the main door 100. In the main door
100, the hinge of the main door 100 is mounted outside the pivot
groove 182, in which the pivot shaft of the upper hinge 260 is
mounted. This hinge is coupled to a right side of an intermediate
portion of the cabinet 10, and is arranged between the freezing
compartment door 20 and the refrigerating compartment door, namely,
the main door 100. The hinge includes a pivot shaft 105 protruding
vertically and, as such, the freezing compartment door 20 disposed
at top side and the main door 100 disposed at bottom side are
pivotably mounted and supported in an independent manner. The pivot
shaft 105 is inserted in a shaft hole 102 provided on the top
surface of the main door 100.
The lower hinge 270 is pivotably mounted to a groove 174 provided
at one side of the bottom of the stepped portion 172 in the main
door 100, using a pivot shaft 271 provided at one end of the lower
hinge 270. The other end of the lower hinge 270 is fastened to the
lower cap decoration 250 forming the bottom surface of the sub-door
200. A cover 278 is then coupled to the lower cap decoration
250.
In FIG. 7, a detailed shape of the lower hinge 270 is illustrated.
In the following description, hinge shape will be described in
conjunction with the lower hinge 270. The same hinge shape may also
be applied to the upper hinge 260. FIG. 7 is a perspective view
taken along the line passing just above the lower hinge in a state
in which the sub-door is opened with respect to the main door.
The lower hinge 270 may include a pivot shaft portion mounted to
the groove 174 provided at the main door 100, a coupling portion
274 coupled to a lower end of the sub-door 200, and connecting
portions 272 and 273 connecting the pivot shaft portion and the
coupling portion while having a bent structure. A pivot shaft 271
protruding downwards is provided at a lower surface of the pivot
shaft portion. The pivot shaft 271 may be mounted in a pin hole
provided at the groove 174. The coupling portion 274 is fastened to
the coupling groove 252 provided at the lower cap decoration 250
forming the bottom surface of the sub-door 200 by a plurality of
screws. The cover 278 is then coupled at bottom side, as
described.
The connecting portion may include a straight section 272 extending
from the pivot shaft, and a curved section bent from the straight
section 272 and connected to the coupling portion 274. When the
lower hinge 270 pivots maximally, the straight portion 272 may be
disposed to be parallel to the front surface of the main door
100.
The curved portion 273 extends from the straight portion 272, which
is disposed rearwards of the front surface of the main door 100,
and further extends to a position disposed forwards of the front
surface of the main door 100 in a direction approximately
perpendicular to the front surface of the main door 100. A
reinforcing rib 275 may be provided at the straight portion 272 and
curved portion 273 in order to achieve an enhancement in support
force.
A stopper 280 is provided at the groove 174 of the main door 100,
in which the lower hinge 270 is mounted, so as to limit a maximum
pivot angle of the lower hinge 270. The stopper 280 protrudes
upwards from the bottom of the groove 174. A side surface of the
straight portion 272 of the lower hinge 270 may selectively contact
the stopper 280, to be supported by the stopper 280.
Generally, hinges are made of a metal material having sufficient
strength in order to pivotably support a heavy door. In this
connection, the stopper 280 may be also made of a metal material
having sufficient strength in order to absorb inertia force and
impact. The stopper 280 may also be provided at the upper pivot
groove 182 of the main door 100, in which the upper hinge 260 is
mounted. However, the stopper 280 may be provided only at the lower
hinge 270 because the sub-door 200 is considerably smaller and
lighter than the main door 100, and the weight of the sub-door 200
is mainly applied to the lower hinge 270.
Hereinafter, the structure and operation relation of the latch
device will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. The latch
device 240 includes the hook member 247, which is pivotably mounted
to one side of the handle groove 234, and a lever member 241
mounted to the handle groove 234, to pivot the hook member 247. The
lever member 241 may be pivotably mounted as pivot axial
protrusions 242 protruding laterally from opposite side surfaces of
the lever member 241 are inserted into axial grooves 235 formed at
opposite sides of the handle groove 234, respectively.
The lever member 241 has a thickness equal to or smaller than half
the thickness of the handle groove 234, so as to be pivotable
within the handle groove 234. A lever 243 protrudes from one side
surface of the lever member 241 to pivot the hook member 247. The
hook member 247 is pivotably mounted to a groove portion formed at
one side of the handle groove 234 while having a greater depth than
the handle groove 234. The hook member 247 may have an integrated
structure including an upper extension portion 2473 extending
upwards from the pivot axis portion, and a rear extension portion
2474 extending rearwards from the pivot axis portion.
To this end, a bracket 245 may be further provided in order to
mount the hook member 247 to the groove portion. The bracket 245
may be coupled to one side of the handle groove 234 through a
through hole 248 formed at the bracket 245 by a screw S.
An axial groove 2471 may be formed at one surface of a pivot axis
portion of the hook member 247. An axial protrusion 2472 may be
formed at the other surface of the pivot axis portion. A protrusion
(not shown), which is inserted into the axial groove 2471, may be
provided at a side surface of the groove portion. A groove 246, in
which the axial protrusion 2472 is received, may be provided at one
side surface of the bracket 245.
When the user pivots the lever member 241, the upper extension
portion 2473 may be pivoted by the lever 243. An elastic member 249
is mounted between the upper extension portion 2473 and the back
surface of the handle groove 234, to return the upper extension
portion 2473 to an original position thereof after pivoting. The
elastic member 249 may be constituted by a coil spring.
A hook member 2475 may be provided at an end of the rear extension
portion 2474 in an integrated manner. The hook member 2475 is bent
through an acute angle of 90.degree. or less. The hook member 2475
is engaged in the engagement groove 132 provided at the main door
100 and, as such, the sub-door 200 may be maintained in a state of
being coupled to the main door 100. A vertical slot may be provided
at a front surface of the bracket 245 in order to allow the upper
extension portion 2473 to pass through the vertical slot so as to
pivot through a predetermined angle.
In a state in which the sub-door 200 is coupled to the main door
100, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the hook member 247 is maintained
in a state of being engaged in the engagement groove 132 because
the elastic member 249 pushes the upper extension portion 2473.
When the user pulls the lever member 241, to pivot the lever member
241, the lever 243 pivots the upper extension portion 2473 of the
hook member 247 and, as such, the hook 2475 of the hook member 247
is lifted to be separated from the engagement groove 132.
The sub-door 200 is separable from the main door 100. In this
state, the user may open the sub-door 200 by pulling the handle
groove 234. Practically, when the user simply pulls the handle
groove 234 while inserting the fingers into the handle groove 234,
the lever member 241 is pivoted, thereby causing the hook member
247 to pivot. Accordingly, the engagement state of the hook member
247 in the engagement groove 132 is released and, as such, the
sub-door 200 is opened.
In accordance with the latch device of the present disclosure, it
may be possible to prevent the locking state of the latch device
from being unintentionally released due to inertia or air pressure
generated during door closing, even when impact is applied to the
main door by intensely closing the main door in a state in which
the sub-door is coupled to the main door.
Finally, in FIGS. 11A and 11B, plan views are shown to illustrate
closed and opened states of the sub-door with respect to the main
door, respectively. When the sub-door 200 is closed with respect to
the main door 100, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the gap between the
opening of the main door 100 and the side surface of the sub-door
200 is completely hidden when the refrigerator is viewed at front
side or lateral side and, as such, the outline of the sub-door 200
is viewed as a single outline.
When the user pulls the lever member 241 of the handle groove 234,
the main door 100 is maintained in a closed state with respect to
the cabinet 10, and only the sub-door 200 is opened in accordance
with pivotal movement thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 11B.
Since the hinge 260 has a bent structure at the intermediate
portion thereof, the sub-door 200 may pivot up to an angle of about
110.degree. without interfering with the main door 100, even though
the width of the sub-door 200 is greater than the width of the
opening.
In a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, it may be
possible to prevent the gap between an opening of a main door and a
sub-door smaller than the main door from being viewed at front
side, thereby minimizing leakage of cold air without degrading
appearance beauty.
Although the sub-door has a greater width than the opening of the
main door, it may be possible to sufficiently increase the opening
angle of the sub-door through application of a hinge having a bent
structure at an intermediate portion thereof.
A refrigerator according to the present disclosure may be capable
of mounting a sub-door smaller than a main door to an opening of
the main door while securing a sufficient opening angle of the
sub-door, and mounting a latch device without passing through the
sub-door while simplifying the structure of the latch device,
thereby achieving easy operation of the latch device and preventing
leakage of cold air.
A refrigerator may include a cabinet defined with a storage chamber
therein, a main door pivotably mounted to the cabinet, to open or
close the storage chamber, the main door comprising an opening
provided at an inside of the main door, and a stepped portion
provided around the opening, a sub-storage chamber mounted at the
inside of the main door, a sub-door mounted to the main door, to
open or close the opening so as to allow a user to have access to
the sub-storage chamber, the sub-door having opposite side surfaces
with front portions protruding forwards of a front surface of the
main door while having a greater width than the opening and the
stepped portion between the front portions of the opposite side
surfaces, to cover the stepped portion by the opposite side
surfaces, and a hinge pivotably mounted, at one end thereof, to the
main door and coupled, at the other end thereof, to the sub-door
while having a bent structure at an intermediate portion thereof,
to pivotably support the sub-door with respect to the main
door.
The sub-door may have, at opposite rear edges thereof, a shape
corresponding to the opening and the stepped portion of the main
door.
Each of the side surfaces of the sub-door may include a first
surface disposed inside the stepped portion while extending
forwards from a back surface of the sub-door, a second surface
extending inclinedly from the first surface outwards and forwards
of the stepped portion, and a third surface disposed outwards and
forwards of the stepped portion while extending forwards from a
front end of the second surface.
The hinge may include an upper hinge pivotably mounted, at one end
thereof, to a top surface of the main door, and mounted, at the
other end thereof, to a top surface of the sub-door, and a lower
hinge pivotably mounted, at one end thereof, to a groove provided
at one side of a bottom of the stepped portion in the main door,
and mounted, at the other end thereof, to a bottom surface of the
sub-door.
A stopper may be provided at the groove of the main door, to which
the lower hinge is mounted, to limit a maximum pivot angle of the
lower hinge.
The hinge may include a pivot shaft portion mounted to a groove
provided at the main door, a coupling portion coupled to an upper
end of the sub-door or a lower end of the sub-door, and a
connecting portion to connect the pivot shaft portion and the
coupling portion while having a bent structure.
The connecting portion may include a straight section extending
from the pivot shaft portion, and a curved section bent from the
straight section and connected to the coupling portion.
The main door may include an outer door to form a front surface and
side surfaces, the outer door having an opening at an upper portion
of the front surface, a door liner to form a back surface, the door
liner having an opening at an upper portion thereof, a frame cover
mounted to the opening of the outer door while having the stepped
portion at a front surface thereof, and cap decorations
respectively coupled to top and bottom surfaces formed in
accordance with coupling of the outer door and the door liner.
The main door may further include a magnetic gasket mounted to a
back surface of the frame cover, and a coupling member to fix the
magnetic gasket to the frame cover.
An upper one of the cap decorations may be provided with a pivot
groove to form a space, to which the hinge is mounted to pivot.
The sub-door may include an outer door to form a front surface and
a side surface, a door liner to form a back surface, a gasket
mounted along an edge of the door liner, the gasket receiving a
magnet therein, and cap decorations respectively coupled to top and
bottom surfaces formed in accordance with the outer door and the
door liner, the hinge being coupled to the cap decorations.
The cap decorations may include an upper cap decoration provided,
at one side of an upper portion thereof, with a coupling groove, to
which the hinge is coupled, and provided, at the other side of the
upper portion thereof, with a handle groove, and a lower cap
decoration provided, at one side of a lower portion thereof, with a
coupling groove, to which the hinge is coupled.
The gasket may include a magnetic member received in the gasket. A
metal member or a magnet member may be provided at a front surface
of the stepped portion in the main door.
The refrigerator may further include a handle groove provided at
one side of an upper portion of the sub-door, a hook member
pivotably mounted to one side of the handle groove, an engagement
groove provided at the front surface of the main door such that the
hook member is selectively engagable in the engagement groove, and
a lever member pivotably mounted to the handle groove, to pivot the
hook member so as to release an engagement state of the hook member
in the engagement groove.
The refrigerator may further include an elastic member mounted
between the handle groove and the hook member, to provide an
elastic force to pivot the hook member in a direction that the hook
member is engaged in the engagement groove.
The main door may further include a handle groove provided at a
side surface of the main door.
Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
disclosure. The appearances of such phrases in various places in
the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number
of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that
numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
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